Vehicle chassis frame



' VEHICLE CHASSIS FRAME Filed Au 4, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR I W1u. IAM SWALLOW.

ATTORNEY Dec. 29, 1936. w. SWALLOW Y VEHICLE CHASSIS FRAME 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 4, 1934 INVENTUR WILLIAM SWALLOW ATTORNEY 0'0I I I I I l QG I I 001 I INVENIOR ATTORNEY Dec. 29, 1936. w, SWALLQWVEHICLE CHASSIS FRAME Filed Aug. 4, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 B 0 2,4. 21 III I l g) 1 Q I l WLUAM SWALLOW.

Dec. 29,1936. w; sw qw 2,066,019

" VEHICLE dHAssIs FRAME Filed Aug. 4, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1N VENT ORWILLI'AM SWALLQW BY M W14 TT ORNE Y Patented Dec. 29, 1936 UNITED STATESPAENT OFFICE VEHICLE CHASSIS FRAME Application August 4, 1934, SerialNo. 738,385 In Great Britain August 25, 1933 8 Claims.

4 The trend in modern design of vehicle and like chassis frames istoward rigidity of construction and lightnessin weight, although thechassis frame is not necessarily as rigid as is possible as it is foundthat, particularly in the case of allsteel bodies, the body gives a verylarge proportionqof the necessaryrigidity. It is, however, desirablethat the chassis should possess a certain degree of stiffness andrigidity and lightness in weight, in order to obtain a maximum powerweight ratio in the complete vehicle.

Generally, rigidity of construction and lightness of weight areincompatible as, to obtain rigidity, heavy section for the frame must beemployed.

There have been many proposals, however, to

obtain this desideratum, such as constructing a frame of side members ofbox section, connecting the side members by transverse bracing membersof e. g. cruciform shape, and further by connecting the longitudinal andtransverse members by torsion resisting joints.

It is found that in most cases the weakest part of a chassis frame isthat forward of the front of the body, that is to say, that part whichsupports the engine and the front wheel springs, the remainingportion ofthe frame being, of course, stiffened additionally by bolting the bodythereto. If is difficult to strengthen this weak front portion of thechassis by cross bracing members as space must be left between thelongitudinals for theengine and transmission gear.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a chassis framewhich combines great Figure 1, is a plan view of a chassis constructedin accordance with one form thereof, and Figure 2 is a side elevation ofthe chassis shown in Figure 1. Figures 3, 4 and 5 are views similar toFigure 1 showing modifications of the invention. Figures 6 to 13 areenlargedviews showing several modifications of the sections employed forthe longitudinal side sills and the bracing members, whilst Figure 14 isan enlarged part perspective view of a further modification of theoutrigger and Figure 15 is an enlarged part perspective view of yet afurther modification.

In Figures 1 and 2, the chassis frame. comprises a pair of longitudinalside sills, ll, l2 of a channel or box section interconnected at theirrear ends by a transverse member l3, of channel, box or tubular section.The side sills l l and I2 are upwardly inclined at their forward ends at[4 and at their rear ends at IE, to accommodate the vehicle wheels andsprings (not shown). Substantially midway of the length of the side sillH and i2 is secured the cruciform bracing member l6, strengthened at thecentre by plates IT.

Forward of the normal front line of the body, or forward of the junctionof the cruciform member [6 with the side sills H, l2 are secured theoutrigger bracing members. Spaced a short distance from the front of theside sills is a transverse bracing member 2| of channel or box sec,-tion, adapted to pass through the longitudinal members ll, I2 and toterminate a short distance outside thereof, or to be secured to saidside sills'and to be provided with extension members lying outside saidside sills, such an arrangement representing a beam 2| built in at bothends as at 22, 23 and formed with cantilever extensions 24, 25. From thefront of the-side sills ll, l2 to the outer ends of the cantilever beams24, 25, extend channel or other section members 26, 21 whilst secondsimilar members 28, 29 run rearwardly from the outer ends of thecantilever beams 24, 25 to the sides of the longitudinals ll, l2 to besecured thereto at 30, 3|, adjacent the junction of the arms 32, 33 ofthe cruciform bracing member "5 with said longitudinals. These members24, 26, 28 and 25, 21, 29 constitute the outrigger bracing members andwhilst they are shown to be riveted, the structure could be Weldedequally well, whilst for strengthening purposes gusset plates (notshown) might be employed or alternatively the several members may beflared, as indicated at 35, additionally for ease of assembly. Themembers 26, 28 and 21, 29 are shown as two separate members, but theymay also be formed each of a one-piece section,

bent to an obtuse angle, the apex of which is secured to the outer endsof the cantilever beam 24 or 25.

In Figure 3, the front end transverse bracing member M is secured at thefront ends of the longitudinals ll, 12 and the outrigger bracing members42, 44 and 43, 45 secured at 46, 41 and 3B, 3! to the side sills ll, l2are in the form of triangular struts; the members 44, 45 may be formedas extensions of the portions 32, 33 of the cruciform bracing member orif formed in two portions may be strengthened at the joints by gussetplates (not shown) to present a substantially continuous beam.

At those portions of the frame not subjected to severe bending ortorsional stresses the sections may be perforated for lightness.

In Figure 4, the forward transverse bracing member 5|, is shown at thefront ends of the forward lineal extensions of the longitudinals I, I2and is somewhat similar to the arrangement shown in Figure 1; itcomprises the beam 5| built in at both ends at 52, 53 and formed' withcan'tilever'extension beams 54, 55, to the outer ends of which aresecured the members 56, 51 extending rearwardly to join the side sillsl2 at 30, 3| in the vicinity of the junction of the members 32, 33 ofthe cruciform member therewith, the members 54, 56 and 55, 51constituting the outrigger bracing members.

In Figure Sis shown a particular modification of Figure 4 wherein thefront ends of the forwardlineal extensions 'of the side sills and thelonger members of the outrigger are reversed in their relation to eachother without altering their effect. In this case, the front ends 62, 63of the forward lineal extensions of the side sills ll, l2 are continuedstraight through to the front transverse member 6|,.to lie inside themembers, 61 of outriggers 64, 66 and 65, .61, the members 66,61.'conf0rming more nearly to the normal side sill contour, with theforward lineal extensions 62,. 63 of the side sills l2 constitutingchordal members within the frame 6|,and'66, 61.. Q

Reference to Figures 6 to 13, will show the different types ofsectionswhich may be employedfor the frame members of the several chassisdescribed, Figure 14 shows amodification of the invention, adaptableparticularly for chassis for the lighter kind of vehicle, wherein thechassis comprises top and bottom unitary stampings H, 12

including the transverse front. member 13, 14 the cantilever portion 15,16 the Outriggers proper TI, 18 and 19, 80 and the cruciform bracingmember 8|, 82 in addition to the other usual transverse bracing.members, (not shown) each of said stampings being formed with inturnededge flanges 83. These stampings constitute the flanges of H-sectionbeams, completed by means of the channel section members 84, the bottomsof the channels constituting the webs of the H- section beams, the wholebeing spot'welded, as indicated at 85.

Figure 15 shows a still further modification, in which tension wires, asin aeroplane practice, are employed for the outrigger. In this instancethe longitudinal 9| of e. g. channel section is provided with the builtin. beam 92 and cantilever extension 93, as. before; the front end ofthe longitudinal, the outer end of the cantilever extension 93, and thelongitudinal 9|, at approximately the junction of the cruciform member95 therewith, are formed with eyeletted lugs 96, to which are.attachedthe tension wires 91, which may be adjusted by turnbuckles suchas 94 or the like, the assembly constituting the outrigger bracingstructure.

From this, construction it is to be observed that i there will be aclear space between the front transverse bracing member, which islocated towards the front of the chassis frame, the longitudinal sidesills and the two halves of the inter- It will be clear from theforegoing that there is 5 provided a chassis frame which possesses theadvantage of rigidity of construction and lightness of Weight, which isas cheap, if not cheaper,

-- to produce than chassis of present type, which is very simple inconstruction, and particularly one which possesses rigidity in thoseareas unaffected by the stiffening of the body, namely forward of thefront line of the body. This stiffen' ing-of the frame forward of thebody is particularly desirable at the present time as the moderntendency is to mount the engine on rubber bushings whereby the rigiditynormally provided by the engine mounting is lost, furthermore, lack ofrigidity in the forward portions of the chassis frame conduces toundesirable wheel wobble and consequent ineffective vehicle control. It;will also be clear that the arrangement of the out} rigger bracingmembers doesnot affectfthe nor mal functioning ,or lock of the steeringroad wheels. I 7 What I claim'as my invention is: j

1. A chassisframe for vehicles comprisingja main framework includinglongitudinal side jsill members reinforced by an (-fraine,landloutrigger extensions including forwardtlinealex- 3/0,

tensions of said X-frame 1 extending goutwardly 0f the sill membersdirectlyffrom the juncture of the arms of the X-frame with the,sillflmenibers, said outrigger extensions forming with the forward endsof the sill members triangulated structures in plan.

'2. A chassis frame for vehicles comprising a main framework, includinglongitudinal side sill members reinforced by an .X-frame, and outriggerextensions comprising forward and; out-" ward lineal extensions of theforward arms of said X-frame directlyfrom the .junctureofthe arms of theX-frame. with the sill members, and

braces connecting the. forward ends of said extensions tothe chassissills and interbracing the forward ends of the chassis sills, saidextensions, braces and the adjacent portions of. the chassis sillsformingtriangulated structures in plan.

main framework including longitudinal side sill members, a transversebeam. connectingjsaid. sills adjacent, their forward ends and extended,lat-

erally therebeyond to form outrig er extensions,,.,, and rearwardlyandinwardly extending braces"' connecting the outer ends of saidextensions with the chassis sill members, and internal, bracing for thechassis sills comprising substantially direct lineal extensions of saidbraces.

4. A chassis frame for vehicles.con'iprisingia main framework includinglongitudinal side sill members, the forward ends of which are reinforcedby outrigger extensions; said extensions each comprising brace membersforming with,

the forward end of the adjacent sill a triaingu cross brace between thechassis side meinbers'f 3. A chassis frame for. vehicles. fil V and arearward and inwardly-extending brace, said outward extension, brace,and the adjacent portion of the sill forming a triangulated structure inplan, said rearwardly and inwardly-extending braces being aligned withinternal bracing between the chassis sill members.

6. A chassis frame as claimed in claim 5 wherein the main framework andthe outrigger extensions and cross braces are formed from top and bottomunitary sheet metal flanged stampings interconnected by sheet metal webmembers having flanges through which they are secured to the unitary topand bottom stamping.

7. A chassis frame as claimed in claimv 4, in which the outriggerbracing members are comprised of tension wires.

8. A chassis frame for vehicles comprising a main framework includinglongitudinal side sill members reinforced by an X-frame joining the sidesill members some distance rearwardly of forward ends of saidsillmembers, and outrigger extensions extending the forward arms of saidX-frame as lineal extensions outwardly and forwardly directly from thejunction of the arms of the X-frame with the sill members, saidextensions and the portions of the sill members projecting forwardly oftheir junction with the arms of the X-frame being transverselyinterbraced adjacent their forward ends.

WILLIAM SWALLOW.

